08 Jun 2012

Poland, Romania, Russia & Portugal get ahead

68 goals, two surprises and a wonderful atmosphere bring amazing opening to theEBSL 2012 in Terracina

Romania upset Switzerland in Division A opening (4-5)

It was important for Romania to have a satisfying way back to the European competition, after the bitter taste last Euro Beach Soccer Cup left in their mouths with their flight problems and their being not given the chance to fight properly. But the reward they got today went beyond what most of the Beach Soccer fans could imagine, as they edged Switzerland in the exciting and leveled game opening the Division A season.

Current EBSL runner-ups opened the score rather quickly, thus stating their rank over Romania. But that did not frighten Farcas side. Romanians replied that first hit with two amazing goals by Croi and Maci that set things 1-2. That was the first prove, if any needed, that the match was not to be a pleasant stroll for Switzerland. Romania kept themselves always close on the score, cutting all Swiss attempts to take off always equalizing any Swiss hit, and equalizing their opponents advantages.

When Schirinzi swept the Swiss ahead with just three minutes to go, the feeling was that could be the winning stroke. But not even two seconds lasted the mighty Romanians to prove that wrong, with Maci sending the halfway line serve straight in. Indeed, the Carpathians even managed to bring the Swiss upset further, with Luci turning things around with a superb free kick with just two minutes to go. That one was the real winner, as the Alpine side could not counteract in time, seeing the first points flee and getting things complicated for their goal to get themselves a place in the EBSL Superfinal of next August in The Hague.

Current EBSL and World Champions Russia had the proper beginning to the 2012 edition of the European League, beating France mainly thanks to a terrific pace in two key moments: the beginning of the game, and the third period. France did never surrender to Russia’s will, though, and that brought an unforgettable beach soccer experience with 15 goals, and a lot of moments to remember on the sand of the Rive di Traiano Beach Stadium.

Just as they have used us to, Russia hit the sand with the idea of having things under control as soon as possible. This is the way Likhachev’s side has built such a terrific status. In just eight minutes, the World Champions were already 0-2 ahead, thanks to Shishin, with Eremeev closing the first period with 0-3.

Second period brought the French reaction, mainly thanks to Pagis’ contribution, and managed to cut the score several times up to the 4-5 which closed the second leg. But at the third period, Russia would kill all options for François’ side, leading a tyrannical control of the game, and hitting once and again the French nets to have the score 4-9 with just one minute to go. Things were already impossible for Les Bleus, but their competitive breed brought them to keep fighting, and Fayos and Basquaise’s attempts found happy ending to cut the distance and make the score 5-9. With this victory, Russia gets on top of group A, and secures first three points in the race to EBSL Superfinal.

Spain and Portugal fielded an amusing battle in this opening matchday of the Euro Beach Soccer League Terracina stage, with the latter clinching the points thanks to an extra-time hit ball captured and sent in by Belchior. This last effort by the Lusitanians changed the course of a match in which it was the Spaniards the ones to get ahead once and again. But not at the very last time.

Spain hit the Terracinese sand knowing that only the best version of themselves would do in front of the best squads in the continent. Through hard-fight and determination, Spaniards managed to open the score and to have it 0-2 thanks to hits by Juanma and Amarelle. But that was not enough to stop Ze Miguel’s talented side, who leveled things back thanks to Bruno Novo’s double. The stroke exchange was the common trend during the whole game, with the Lusitanians immediately equalizing every Spanish hit, and the match unavoidably heading towards extra time.

If his two goals were not enough to be considered the most decisive player in the game, Belchior would absolutely deserve this award after scoring the winner for his side in that extra three minutes. The Portuguese number 10 got a ball and send it far from Dona’s reach, thus getting his team the two points at stake to follow Russia’s tracks in Group A of this opening stage of the Euro Beach Soccer League 2012.

After the first minutes of the Italy-Poland closing this first matchday of the Euro Beach Soccer League Terracina, few would think that the Polish would end ruining the hosts’ evening. But they did, thanks to a great comeback after the initial 3-1, and the last effort by Saganowski, sending in an overhead kick in the last minutes of the extra time to snatch the points from Italian hands.

Everything seemed to be on the right place for Esposito’s side after Corosiniti hit twice during the first minutes of the game. The 2-0 delighted the spectacularly packed stands of the Beach Stadium Rive di Traiano. But Wydmuszeck sent the first message that it was not all sweet that what the Azzurri could expect. Despite Ramacciotti widened the gap again, the Polish had already started their fight-back, and just six minutes later they were already in command of the score. Now it was the moment for the hosts to counteract, trying the get the score back on their side, and Palmacci managed to, at least, have things tied at the end of the

Everything was to be decided in the last period. Italy had on their side the fantastic atmosphere coming from the stands, and Poland played with no pressure, knowing that all that weight was on the Italian side. Friszkemut swept his team ahead again, but the local hero, Paolo Palmacci replied not once, but twice, to change things around again. The Italian joy lasted no longer than some seconds, though, as Ziober equalized the score again, and sent the match to extra time.

That was then all or nothing for both sides. Every second going by, the more difficult would it be to recover after receiving a goal and when Saganowski chipped the ball and blasted it in with a wonderful bicycle kick, Italy were just left little more than 100 seconds. This time, these were not enough to equal things back , and Poland lead the second surprise of this Euro Beach Soccer League, both of them in group B, in which Romania and Poland occupy the first places of a table to the detriment of favourites Switzerland and Italy.

Czech Republic left no room for doubt in the Division B Season opening in this Euro Beach Soccer League Terracina 2012, and ran over Norway to get in the first place of the table after the first matchday. The Czech lasted a little while to find the Viking nets, but once they did, they kept punishing them once and again, building a already uncontestable 5-0 by mid second period.

With the points already secured, the Czechs did not give up looking towards the Norwegian end during the third period, acknowledging that goal-average is a key element when it comes to discern who goes first in a four-team group table. Sálak and Bocek pushed the score even wider, with the 7-0 in the last stage of the game, thus closing an authoritarian win through which they send a clear message to their rivals: “we head for the Promotion Final”.

It was not easy to foresee the way Hungary would begin their path in back in the Euro Beach Soccer League. Whereas the Magyar had been performing quite well during these last seasons in which they had not been granted a place in the European League, the Division B is getting tougher and tougher, and non opponent is easy enough to secure a sweet, easy beginning. And, definitely, that was not Belarus, who turned into a real monster to make the Hungarian debut a nightmare.

Despite the game being really even during first period, the Belarusian confirmed the flashes they gave last season by building an overwhelming 4-goal advantage during the second 12 minutes. Captain Krupitsa, with two goals, Bokach and Karpau laid the foundations for the Belarusian win, the one they would round in the third period.

Although Abel cut the distance a bit, Belarus were on the winning mood today, absolutely focused on following the pace set by the Czechs at the first match. With this idea in mind, and with the dream of staying on the road to a Promotion final berth. Five new goals in this last leg, with special outstanding performance by Bryshtsel and Bokach, two goals each, finished all Hungarian possibilities to come back, at the time they raised Bogaichuk’s side to the head of the Division B group.